Corozal, Puerto Rico

Corozal
Municipio Autónomo de Corozal
Town and Municipality
From top, left to right: Corozal city hall in downtown Corozal; Parroquia Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family Parish); Town square of Corozal; historic Mavilla Bridge; and Panoramic mountainous views from barrios Cibuco and Magueyes
Flag of Corozal
Flag
Coat of arms of Corozal
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
"La Capital del Voleibol", "Los Plataneros"
Anthem: "En Dios y Corozal todos unidos"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Corozal Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Corozal Municipality
Coordinates: 18°20′30″N 66°19′1″W / 18.34167°N 66.31694°W / 18.34167; -66.31694
Sovereign state United States
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
FoundedApril 27, 1795
Founded byFrancisco de Neve
Barrios
13 barrios
Government
 • MayorLuis “Luiggi” García (PNP)
 • Senatorial dist.6 - Guayama
 • Representative dist.28
Area
 • Total
42 sq mi (109 km2)
 • Land42 sq mi (109 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
34,571
 • Rank35th in Puerto Rico
 • Density820/sq mi (320/km2)
DemonymCorozaleños
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00783
Area code787/939
Major routes

Corozal (Spanish pronunciation: [koɾoˈsal] ⓘ) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-eastern region, north of Orocovis and Barranquitas; south of Vega Alta; southwest of Toa Alta; east of Morovis and Orocovis; and west of Naranjito. Corozal is spread over 12 barrios and Corozal Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The city name is derived from the "palma de corozo" (grugru palm, Acrocomia media) which abounds in the Cordillera Central zone of the Island.

History

Corozal's local Taino Indian Cacique (Chief) was named Orocobix and his tribe was known as the Jatibonicu Taino.[2]

Corozal was founded in 1795 and officially became a town in 1804. Commonly known as La Cuna del Volibol or Volleyball's Cradle. It takes its name from the Acrocomia media, in Puerto Rican Spanish: palma de corozo.

Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Corozal was 11,508.[3]

From 1902 to 1905 Corozal became one with Toa Alta, an adjoining municipality.[4]

In 2000 census the population of Corozal was 36,867, and it had a land area of 43 sq mi (111 km2).

Intense wind and rainfall from Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017 triggered numerous landslides in Corozal,[5][6] and bridges and homes were destroyed.[7] Some residents of Corozal had to resort to collecting spring water as access to potable water was limited after the devastation caused by the hurricane.[8] During the event, the police station in Corozal suddenly became flooded by the Cibuco River while there were nineteen officers inside. The officers climbed up and standing on the rooftop, made a human chain so as not to be swept away by the hurricane winds. Seeing them, several young people began a rescue operation by cutting tree limbs and debris to allow the river to subside just enough. With a firehose in hand, they waded in waters up to their necks and were able to help the officers get to dry land.[9]

  • Hurricane Maria relief work in Corozal by the Puerto Rico National Guard
    Hurricane Maria relief work in Corozal by the Puerto Rico National Guard
  • Landslides caused by Hurricane Maria in Corozal
    Landslides caused by Hurricane Maria in Corozal
  • Some of Puerto Rico had power 5 days later
    Some of Puerto Rico had power 5 days later

Geography

Mountain view in Corozal. Photograph by Jack Delano (Circa1941).

Corozal is located in the mountainous region near the center of the island. Quebrada Jacinta is a valley in Corozal.[10]

Updated flood zone maps (as of 2019) show that Corozal is extremely vulnerable to flooding, along with Humacao, Rincón, Barceloneta, and Toa Baja. Due to its large number of rivers and streams, Corozal is regarded as being extremely vulnerable to damage from major hurricanes.[11]

Hydrography

Rivers and streams of Corozal include Río Cibuco, Río Corozal, Río Dos Bocas, Río Grande de Manatí, Río Mavilla, Río Orocovis, and Río Unibón.[12]

Barrios

Subdivisions of Corozal.

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Corozal is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo."[13][14][15][16]

  1. Abras
  2. Cibuco
  3. Corozal barrio-pueblo
  4. Cuchillas
  5. Dos Bocas
  6. Magueyes
  7. Maná
  8. Negros
  9. Padilla
  10. Palmarejo
  11. Palmarito
  12. Palos Blancos
  13. Pueblo

Sectors

Further information: List of barrios and sectors of Corozal, Puerto Rico

Barrios (which are like minor civil divisions)[17] are further subdivided into smaller areas called sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.[18][19][20]

Special Communities

See also: Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development

Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Corozal: Aldea Vázquez, Comunidad Los Indios, Cuba Libre-EI Idilio, El Guarico, La Escalera, La Mina, and Parcelas Medina.[21][22]

Climate

Corozal experiences a tropical climate.

Climate data for Corozal, Puerto Rico
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31) 		90
(32) 		95
(35) 		97
(36) 		98
(37) 		98
(37) 		99
(37) 		98
(37) 		98
(37) 		98
(37) 		93
(34) 		91
(33) 		99
(37)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 78
(26) 		80
(27) 		83
(28) 		84
(29) 		87
(31) 		88
(31) 		88
(31) 		88
(31) 		88
(31) 		87
(31) 		82
(28) 		79
(26) 		84
(29)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 60
(16) 		60
(16) 		61
(16) 		65
(18) 		68
(20) 		70
(21) 		72
(22) 		72
(22) 		72
(22) 		70
(21) 		66
(19) 		62
(17) 		67
(19)
Record low °F (°C) 43
(6) 		45
(7) 		45
(7) 		55
(13) 		58
(14) 		60
(16) 		64
(18) 		67
(19) 		64
(18) 		60
(16) 		50
(10) 		48
(9) 		43
(6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.55
(90) 		3.11
(79) 		1.02
(26) 		4.78
(121) 		8.55
(217) 		7.20
(183) 		6.20
(157) 		5.84
(148) 		7.60
(193) 		7.71
(196) 		8.47
(215) 		5.65
(144) 		69.68
(1,769)
Source: The Weather Channel[23]

Tourism

To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Corozal page lists Reserva Natural Monte Choca, Tres Cruces, and Gran Mural de la Cultura Corozaleña, as places of interest.[24]

Corozal is home to the Historical Center of Cibuco, a park and museum with relics from the Puerto Rico's (Taínos) as well as objects, paintings and artifacts of the town's history.

El Balalaika is a cafeteria which opened its doors around 1962.[25][26]

A waterfall in Barrio Magueyes, Puerto Rico
Salto Grande in Barrio Magueyes (PR-568)

Landmarks and places of interest

  • El Rancho Recreation Center
  • El Jíbaro Centro Recreativo
  • Cine-Teatro San Rafael de Corozal, a movie theatre which reopened in 2017 after being closed for 28 years.[27]
  • Mavilla Bridge

Economy

"Corozal, Puerto Rico (vicinity). In the home of a FSA (Farm Security Administration) borrower who raises some tobacco and a little sugar cane on his small farm between Corozal and Orocovis."- photo credit: Jack Delano, 1941.

Agriculture

One of Puerto Rico's major plaintain producers. New small businesses producing eggs and hydroponic crops (lettuce, recao) are emerging.

Business

Crafts, services. Several manufacture enterprises have reduced or moved operations in recent years.

Culture

Festivals and events

Catholic church in downtown Corozal

Corozal celebrates its patron saint festival in January. The Fiestas Patronales de la Sagrada Familia is a religious and cultural celebration in honor of the Holy Family and generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[10][28]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Corozal include:

Sports

Volleyball

Swimming

The Gold Fish Swim Team for kids and youth and a new Master's Swim Team created in 2008 under the direction of Arlene Ortiz.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
190011,508—
191012,97812.8%
192014,36910.7%
193016,45414.5%
194020,45824.3%
195023,08712.9%
196023,5702.1%
197024,5454.1%
198028,22115.0%
199033,09517.3%
200036,86711.4%
201037,1420.7%
202034,571−6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[32]
1899 (shown as 1900)[33] 1910-1930[34]
1930-1950[35] 1960-2000[36] 2010[15] 2020[37]

Government

Main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Corozal is Luis “Luiggi” García, of the New Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected at the 2020 general elections.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which is represented by two senators. In 2012, Miguel Pereira Castillo and Angel M. Rodríguez were elected as district senators.[39]

Transportation

There are 26 bridges in Corozal.[40] Mavilla Bridge in Corozal is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places:[41]

Symbols

The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[42]

Flag

Consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width, yellow the top, green the middle and blue the bottom, and in some instances the middle stripe could have embroidered or printed the coat of arms.[43]

The flag is very similar to the provincial flag of Islas del Caró (I.D.C.) except that the yellow stripe is half the size as the green and blue stripes much like the flag of Colombia except that the red stripe is replaced by the green one at the bottom. It is unknown whether the flag was made to coincide with the densely populated province of El Conquistador or was created by natural and neutral causes.[43]

Coat of arms

On a gold background three corozo palm trees, with clusters in their original color, planted on a green landscape and in front of a mountain range. At the bottom, blue and silver water waves sprinkled with gold nuggets. The three-tower-crown is gold with black stones. The corozo palms represent the name of the town and its river, whose ends were populated with palms. The mountains represent the high striking mountains of Corozal. The waves represent the Corozal River and gold nuggets, a metal that was panned. The gold background represents the hard labor and alludes to the gold of Corozal, appreciated long ago for its purity. The crown is an emblem used to designate the cities and towns.[43]

Education

Public high schools in Corozal include Escuela Superior Emilio R. Delgado and Escuela Superior Porfirio Cruz García High School in Barrio Cuchillas. The only private high school is Colegio Sagrada Familia in Barrio Pueblo.

The following songs mention Corozal:

Notable "Corozaleños"

  • Places in Corozal
  • Building in Corozal barrio-pueblo
    Building in Corozal barrio-pueblo
  • Parroquia La Sagrada Familia
    Parroquia La Sagrada Familia
  • Statue in downtown Corozal
    Statue in downtown Corozal
  • City hall
    City hall

See also

References

  1. ^ Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Cayetano Coll y Toste. Prehistoria de Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Tipografía Boletín Mercantil. 1907. p.298. (Reprinted by Editorial El Nuevo Mundo. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 2011. ISBN 9781463539283. Also reprinted by the United States Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, in 1948, in the Handbook of South American Indians: The Circum-Caribbean Tribes, Julian H. Steward, ed., volume 4, for the Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology, for their Bulletin 143.)
  3. ^ Joseph Prentiss Sanger; Henry Gannett; Walter Francis Willcox (1900). Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office (in Spanish). Imprenta del gobierno. p. 161. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "Corozal Memoria Núm. 61" (PDF). University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico - Oficina del Gobernador - Junta de Planificación. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico". USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico" (PDF). USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  7. ^ "Photos: Scenes of devastation in Puerto Rico after Maria". WTOP. September 26, 2017. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  8. ^ Baez, Alvin (October 18, 2017). "The search for water in Puerto Rico". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. María desató al río Cibuco en Corozal donde se vivió un rescate de película" [Maria, a name we will never forget. María released the Cibuco River leading to a dramatic rescue]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Corozal Municipality". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH).[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ Alvarado León, Gerardo E. "Sobre 250,000 estructuras están en zonas inundables" (PDF). Junta de Planificación - Gobierno de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). El Nuevo Día. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "GNIS". Geonames. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  13. ^ Picó, Rafael; Buitrago de Santiago, Zayda; Berrios, Hector H. Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  14. ^ Gwillim Law (May 20, 2015). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4766-0447-3. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  16. ^ "Map of Corozal at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  17. ^ "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  18. ^ "Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)". Puerto Rico Budgets (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  19. ^ Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (first ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  20. ^ "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. ^ Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (1st ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, p. 273, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  22. ^ "Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  23. ^ "Corozal, Puerto Rico Weather". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  24. ^ Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando (in Spanish). Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico. 2021.
  25. ^ Hernandez, Zulaika (May 7, 2021). "Restaurants in Puerto Rico: Balalaika". FoodieZoolee. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  26. ^ "Balalaika El Oasis de Cibuco". Discover Puerto Rico. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  27. ^ "¡Corozal está de película!". Primera Hora. July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  28. ^ J.D. (May 2, 2006). "Corozal". Link To Puerto Rico.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  29. ^ "La Federación Puertorriqueña de Voleibol está satisfecha con el torneo masculino 2019". El Nuevo Dia. August 31, 2019. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  30. ^ "Mucho en juego en el voleibol masculino". Primera Hora. February 20, 2019. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  31. ^ "Las Pinkin regresan en el siguiente torneo". Primera Hora. September 22, 2019. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  32. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  33. ^ "Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899". War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  34. ^ "Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  35. ^ "Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  36. ^ "Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  37. ^ Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  38. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  39. ^ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived December 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  40. ^ "Corozal Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  41. ^ "Puerto Rico: Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos" (PDF). geoisla.com. Government of Puerto Rico. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  42. ^ "Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios". LexJuris de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  43. ^ a b c "COROZAL". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  44. ^ Controversia navideña, in "Al rescate de la Navidad". Tuna de Cayey. Tuna de Cayey, publisher. 2007. 5m 36s. Quote: "Soy el cantor del batey del pueblo de Corozal..."
  45. ^ Guineítos con corned beef, in "José Nogueras: 27 éxitos... y la ñapa". José Nogueras. Música Estival, publisher. 2011. 3m 27s. Quote: "Mafafos yo traigo de Corozal..."
  46. ^ "Oubao-Moin (Juan Antonio Corretjer - Roy Brown)".
  47. ^ Que nunca muera nuestra tradición, single. Elied. Bajari Music, publisher. 2020. 3m 26s. Quote: "Vengo desde el campo, allá, en Corozal..."
  48. ^ "District 17". Rafael Salamanca Jr.[permanent dead link‍]

Further reading